Ricky Stuart has refused to confirm he’ll remain Parramatta coach next NRL season but says he’s had no contact from Canberra about taking over the Raiders in 2014.
Stuart’s first season with the Eels ended in embarrassing fashion on Sunday as the repeat wooden spooners shipped 50 points in a game for fourth time in 2013, surrendering meekly 54-6 to finals-bound Newcastle.
The former Australia and NSW Origin coach has been widely linked with a return to Canberra, the club he played more than 200 games for between 1988 and 1998 as replacement for the sacked David Furner.
But the 46-year-old Stuart, who admitted he does have a get-out clause in his Eels contract, claimed he’d not heard from any of the Raiders powerbrokers.
“I haven’t spoke to Canberra it’s a simple as that. It’s not on my mind,” said Stuart after Sunday’s defeat at Hunter Stadium.
When pressed on whether he would definitely be at the Eels next year, Stuart played a straight bat.
“What more can I say? I have read all the speculation too,” he said.
“I am contracted to Parramatta. I haven’t spoken to anyone about going anywhere else.”
Stuart said different factions at boardroom level were holding Parramatta back and this was the reason he had a clause inserted in his deal which would allow him to walk away at the end of the season.
“We have a volatile board. Why wouldn’t I? (have a get-out clause) but it’s not an excuse for how we are playing,” he said.
“100 per cent (it’s holding us back). But it’s not so much the board but the factions around it.
“I am very embarrassed in regards to our performances this year.
“It’s unacceptable to our fans.”
barfly
Guest
oh Diana, fmd mate u hit the nail on the head brother............................................well said great rant...............................
Nappa
Guest
Haha Ricky Stuart is a joke, NSW saviour I'm still laughing they have still not won a series, Parramatta saviour and win 5 games all season and not one players looks like they want to be there... Great coach
Hez
Roar Rookie
They were uncompetitive because they dumped all their eggs into the Sandow basket. Rule changes took away his only form of defence with the shoulder charge being outlawed hence their star play maker (other than Hayne) was effectively taken out of the game. Dont get me started on Roberts but Kelly is a good prospect and next year should be a better year for the eels, and yes especially if sticky sticks around.
Hez
Roar Rookie
Word is fensom is on his way out too
Nick
Roar Guru
How can you possibly defend Stuart? He did not have to decide so early who would stay and who would go. That's for the post season. He certainly did not have to announce who he was sacking in such a public and humiliating manner. Most of the woe Parramatta has has been bought on by his ego. He completely destroyed the culture and motivation of the team. Stuart is a complete Cretan,.
Nick
Roar Guru
That doesn't excuse the Eels for being flat out uncompetitive. That for and against of over 400 is astonishing. A good coach can make his team play for some pride though. However, a coach who has no pride or dignity.....
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Canberra need someone who is a tough task master and disciplinarian as well a coach who will stick with the team through thick and thin. Ricky has a history of walking when things go bad after he caused the problems
Hansie
Guest
Didn't Ricky Stuart slam Israel Folau for supposedly backing out on a deal to play with Parramatta? Ricky seems to have trouble fulfilling his contracts. And as for the Folau situation, Ricky was the one claiming a deal; nobody else.
des right hand
Guest
you can't blame Stuart the same happened to kearney last year and that was with hindmarsh and burt... I think it starts with Hayne and his attitude he like benji recieves special treatment and enjoys the fact he is clearly the best player at the club not to mention he is injury prone.. my point is he is not a leader and parra need a leader... Sticky will go who wouldn't the spoon is there's for atleast two more years and Canberra have lots of promise!!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
A very well reasoned comment.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Stuart is between a rock and a hard place. He has a poor roster produced by the Board's poor recruitment and salary cap management. He had to decide early who would go, who would be on trial and who would stay. Therefore is it any wonder that the players are playing as individuals and not as a team? Stuart is one year into a 3 year plan that he presented to the Board and was employed on that basis. We now hear that the Board is split 3 ways with one of those factions actively anti Stuart. Who would want to work in that sort of environment? I hope Stuart stays and sees his plan through but I also hope that the Board grow up and leave the football department alone. Having said that though, Stuart is the best person to know whether or not he has clear water to complete his plan, if there is no prospect of clear water then I will not blame him for leaving.
Renegade
Guest
I'm not defending Stuart here. Just pointing out that this parramatta side is very bad regardless of who the coach is.
Terry
Guest
To an extent yes. But they had a Premiership winner, SOO coach an Aussie coach - and he took them backwards, sacked half the players, told them they were duds and would get flogged - and now he bolts 1 year into his contract - after stripping the playing roster off his own bat? Stuart is media driven and overblown protected species and a bloke of obvious limited coaching ability and spinal fortitude. This is the 3rd club in a row he has done this to..
Renegade
Guest
I don't think it really mattered who coached Parramatta this year.... they were destined to be wooden spooners. The top 25 at the eels pales in comparison to every other club in the competition.... easily the weakest side of the last decade and two consecutive wooden spoons justify that.
Meesta Cool
Guest
I always have that thought in my mind. Melbourne were caught paying players that they hadn't had to promise big pay packets to just to attract them to the club.. HOW indeed are some clubs keeping below the cap?... Yes Roosters are a classic example. but they aren't alone!.
GW
Roar Pro
I wonder if Milford would stay if we made him Captain/Coach? It sounds crazy, but when you consider that McCrone is a co-captain, and he's got no idea what he's doing, why not? Now being serious - on Ferguson possibly joining the Rorters - how the hell can they afford anyone that can play at all? They have SBW, Jennings, JW-H, the NSW halves, the classiest wingers in the game etc and IF any of these players were to join Canberra, they would be on about $750k per year. Maybe if you rip your contract up at one club, you HAVE to sign up with the wooden spooners. In the NFL or their baseball, the very well paid players seem to be able to get moved around like chess pieces. Ferguson could have just waited till 1 Nov then signed with another club, but the dope couldn't do that, so he didn't comply with his contract and was sacked. How would Parra look with Carney, Dugan, Fergo? If the salary cap is evening out the talent across the teams, how do some sides have most of the best players from Australia, NZ or England?
Pot irrer
Guest
Im sure Parra fans would have been thinking it couldnt get worse at te start of this year, But it did and Ricky has to wear some of that becuase of what he has done to the team and imo if he has any character he will stay and Parra will improve next year.
GW
Roar Pro
He could be up on a roof drinking cruisers within a few days. Can a coach be deregistered?
Meesta Cool
Guest
In reality, any coach could have won with playing rosters that Sticky had to play with.. this years performance has been a disgrace, the team has no team spirit nor desire to win. A good coach can give a team these attributes!, once again I say "This team has no defence and gives in too easy, No heart!.
sham
Guest
Stuart has taken teams to three grand finals and he has won a title. He also took the Sharks to a preliminary final in 2008 but I am not sure that he is a coach suited to building up a poor team. To be fair he has only had one year at the Eeels and the roster there is not great. The raiders roseter is not as good as people think. They lack mobilty in the forwards - that is why the loss of Sean Fensom was so important. They also look like losing their best back in Milford after losing the most talented centre in the game in Blake Ferguson. I hope they keep Milford.